Guerlain Ombré Éclat 1 Couleur Single Eyeshadow Giveaway Contest

Congratulations to Ava!

Guerlain's Ombré Éclat 1 Couleur Fards à Paupières ($34) is the largest single eye shadow product on the market - more than ample product in one compact. Intense and long-lasting colors allow for light and delicate eye makeup when applied lightly or a more sophisticated, dramatic effect when the color is built or blended - always with an impeccable finish. Guerlain's luxury shadows are available in many different shades to collect and match according to your mood. I have one in L'Instant Fleuri (#161) to give away.

This gilded lavender shadow looks bold in the pan but goes on sheer. According to Real Simple, it flatters anyone, it really plays up the colors in brown and green eyes.

How can you enter to win this giveaway contest (technically a sweepstakes)? Just leave a comment on this feature (not in another BTiB post). After you comment here, feel free to send me an e-mail at bestthingsinbeautycontests@gmail.com (the contest address, not my "personal" e-mail) and identify your comment. You can never be too careful about sharing an e-mail address you care about on a blog, so feel free to follow this step (an alternative is to code your e-mail, e.g., myname at gmail dot com, in your comment). Please make sure I have your e-mail. If I can't notify you, you can't win - even if your number is drawn. I can't believe the number of entrants I haven't been able to find in the past.

You can earn extra entries. Follow this blog (through an e-mail subscription, GFC, or though one of the many Google readers - see sidebar at right) to earn a second entry. If you are a follower, it would help me tally entries if you tell me in your comment how you follow. You don't have to follow to enter. I want everyone to have a chance, but I also want to reward my followers. I must be able to track this entry.

You can earn a third entry by tweeting this contest. You must include "@BTiBeauty" (without the quotes) and the contest title in your tweet. Remember, tweet the contest title - if you don't, that entry won't count. I will tweet the contest this evening, and you can simply retweet it to earn that second entry - if that's easier.

The deadline for entries will be Saturday, August 11, at midnight. The next morning, I will use a random number generator (random.org) to select the winner. I will e-mail the winner on Sunday morning. The winner will have 48 hours to reply to my message and provide a shipping address. After 48 hours, the prize will be forfeited, and another winner will be selected. Make sure to check your e-mail - and look in your spam folder - when the contest ends.

This contest is open to anyone anywhere. Here are the terms. I will carefully pack and ship the prize (as I always do). I cannot insure the prize for overseas shipment - it's amazingly expensive to do so because of the way I have to send insured mail. If it's lost or stolen in transit, I may not be able to replace it with another prize just like it. I'll do my best on this end; let's see if your mail service does right by you on the other end if we have an overseas winner.

For all the legalese related to this contest, please see the Contests/Sweepstakes page at the top of the blog. Good luck!

Photo courtesy of Real Simple

Chanel Les 4 Ombres Rives Eyeshadow Palette from the Fleur de Lotus Collection, Nordstrom Exclusive

I'm ready to proclaim Fleur de Lotus the best Chanel color collection in years. That's a bold statement, but I think it's warranted. As you know, the collection was an Asia exclusive, but it was made available to us in the United States for Nordstrom's Anniversary sale. My first ho-hum reaction was tempered by time. When I received the collection and started wearing the pieces, serious love set in.

I've featured the gorgeous blush and the icy green Illusion D'Ombre in Rivière, two knock-your-socks-off pieces from Fleur de Lotus (just scroll down). Today, I'll focus on the eyes. Chanel's Les 4 Ombres Rives Eyeshadow Palette ($58) is exquisite. What neutral shadow lover wouldn't want it?

When mine, which I ordered online, arrived from Nordstrom, I quickly photographed it in its unused state and then started to play. I immediately discovered that the shade at top left is nearly rose gold. Anyone who has been reading Best Things in Beauty knows that rose gold is a color that makes me deliriously happy. And so it was with Rives.

From classic ivory to rich brown, the shades of the essential eyeshadow compact offer unlimited looks of elegance. The smudge-proof, dermatologist-tested formula can be applied dry for subtle shading or dampened for more intense color, with long-wearing results even in extreme climates.

Chanel's understated description doesn't do justice to this beauty. The colors are beautiful in the palette. They are even more beautiful on the skin. I took many swatch photos in full sun, and every one of them was good. I had applied the shadows with a sponge-tipped applicator, and I swatched clockwise, starting at the top left.

What would you call the stunning shade at the top of my arm? It's gleaming rose gold to my eye, but I could also call it pastel copper, a peach-gold hybrid, and many other flattering terms. No matter what words characterize it, on my eyelids it's drop-dead gorgeous. Dear Chanel, could I please have a vat of it?

The ivory - or white - shade is a nice one. It adheres to my skin perfectly (as do all the shades), leaving a nice white base or highlight. The taupe will delight any taupe lover. While I applied it heavily for the swatch photos, it's fabulous when applied normally with a brush. The dark brown is a good shade for me. It's a cool brown - my favorite.

All of these shades are complementary, giving us many options for mixing and matching or layering. Chanel hit it out of the park with Rives.

Did you purchase it? Do you like it? I'm crazy about it. Right now, I'm trying to restrain myself from ordering a second one. I just paid my AmEx bill, and I still want to go for broke with the Fleur de Lotus Collection. As you know, you can find it at Nordstrom - only. It's available online and in-store.

Photos at top courtesy of Nordstrom; other photos by Best Things in Beauty

The Friday Forum - August 3

As you can see above, hydrangeas suffer in the late afternoon. They often get a little wilty. The leaves are the first to show signs of stress. The blooms follow. Earlier in the week, I drove through driving rain (so intense it was hard to see the road), but returned home to find that we hadn't had a single drop at my house. That was a disappointment. Bring me rain, please!

Isn't it hard to believe it's August already? Old timers say that as the years go by, time passes more quickly. I'm beginning to appreciate their wisdom. I haven't shopped the clothing departments in the stores yet, but I'm sure they are featuring wool in fall colors. It's hard to get excited about that when temperatures are approaching 100 degrees.

I've enjoyed the snippets of the Olympics I've seen this week. I cannot stay up late enough at night to watch all the events NBC withholds until the last minutes of their nightly telecast. The schedule is definitely set to ensure viewers see every last advertisement and to influence ratings, not for viewer convenience. I guess in networking world, no one starts their day at 4:30 am. To me, prime time occurs between 7:00 and 9:00 pm.

Anyhow, there have been some spectacular competitions, and I want to congratulate all the athletes (except for a few spoiled brats who were expelled for behaving badly during matches). Even those who don't medal are extremely talented and worked hard to get there. Perhaps since the weekend is starting, I'll get to see more of the events.

On the beauty front, I can't wait to get my hands on some of the arrivals planned for September - like Chantecaille's elephants. I'm currently waiting for my new Giorgio Armani Palettes to arrive via UPS. I've been having fun with Guerlain's new collection, and I am thrilled with the Fleur de Lotus Collection from Chanel. I have many new bottles of fragrance to feature, along with two dynamite skin care brands that are new to me. I must write this weekend!

It's time for the Friday Forum, our open chat. What new products did you discover this week? Did you find any deals you couldn't resist? Are you using a fabulous product and want to sing its praises? Did you find a beauty product disappointing? Do you have a question others might be able to answer? Want to talk about skin care? What's new in your life? Just use the comments. Don't be shy. Just make sure to ask any question you might have over the weekend. By early the next week, most (not all) readers will have moved on.

This week, to celebrate Best Things in Beauty's three-year anniversary, I posted two giveaway contests. Make sure to enter them before tomorrow night, Saturday, August 4, at midnight. Bobbi Brown's Platinum Pink Shimmer Brick is as pretty as it gets - useful any time of year. Estée Lauder's new Violet Underground Pure Color 5-Color EyeShadow Palette is a stunner. There will be two lucky winners announced Sunday morning.

It's hard to believe I've been writing Best Things in Beauty for three years, which brings me back to the wisdom of old timers. It seems like only months ago when I decided to give beauty blogging a try. Since that time, I feel like I've made friends - friends I treasure - in all of you. Thank you for making this endeavor rewarding and am important part of my life.

Photo by Best Things in Beauty

Chanel Joues Contraste Fleur de Lotus Blush - Nordstrom Exclusive

I wasn't prepared to fall in love. Turns out my new love was sudden and dramatic when Chanel's Fleur de Lotus Joues Contraste Blush ($43) arrived from Nordstrom.  Another Asia exclusive made its way to the United States, thanks to Nordstrom. I had seen photos of Fleur de Lotus, and it looked nice, but nothing, especially its official portrait above, prepared me for the love.

A vibrant new shade of the classic Chanel blush enhances the cheekbones with joyful color. The unique formula offers buildable coverage, from natural to dramatic, for a flattering, youthful glow.

That's one of the most subdued marketing blurbs I've seen in a long time. Someone should have been shouting "yabadabadoo"! Here's what I mean.

In real life, the blush appears more pink and less coral. On my skin, it's a warm pink that's about as perfect as it gets.

Here are two swatch photos, both taken in full, late-afternoon sun. I applied the swatch at the top of my arm pretty heavily with a sponge-tipped applicator, then I used a dense blush brush to apply a second swatch, not quite as heavily, below. Not only is this blush gorgeous on my arm, it's gorgeous on my face.

I'm gushing. I'll be wearing Fleur de Lotus every day until the euphoria wears off. Think I should purchase a back-up while it's still available?

Photo at top courtesy of Nordstrom; other photos by Best Things in Beauty

AVEENO Clear Complexion Daily Cleansing Pads

AVEENO's Clear Complexion Clear Complexion Daily Cleansing Pads (about $6) are (dual-textured cleansing pads pre-moistened with natural soy and salicylic acid, a blemish-fighting ingredient to help clear and prevent breakouts and help improve the skin's clarity and even out tone and texture. These pads are textured on one side to gently exfoliate and smooth on the other side to lift way dirt, oil, and makeup that can clog pores and cause breakouts. They are hypoallergenic, oil-free, and soap-free - gentle enough for everyday use and sensitive skin.

Because I'm an AVEENO Ambassador, AVEENO sent me these lovely cleansing pads to try. I think cleansing pads are the best thing ever for times fatigue makes even before-bed or early morning cleansing a dreaded chore. Salicylic acid, one of the ingredients in AVEENO's Clear Complexion Daily Cleansing Pads, and I don't get along, so I asked a friend at work - let's call her Goldie - to test them for me. Goldie's review follows.

I met Charlestongirl at work last year and we became great friends. She brought perfume samples in her first week at work (wouldn’t you know it?) (Note: This is not what made us friends, but it helped.) Despite being 29 (at the time) and generally beauty-illiterate, especially when it comes to the likes of Bottega Veneta and other fine brands, I graciously took what she had to offer. Lucky for me she’s never stopped.

After seven months, I’ve accumulated a small box of perfume samples, some make-up, a pair of By Terry purple flip flops, and two faux snakeskin-textured Neiman Marcus totes, pink and gold, that I adore and use for everything. The latest freebie was perfect for me - AVEENO Clear Complexion Daily Cleansing Pads.

These things are awesome! I have struggled with acne my whole life, and although I’m pretty much in the clear now, this summer has ignited a real comeback. That is how I know these cleansing pads really work. The packaging touts self-foaming, and that was the first thing I noticed. You only need one pad (no water required), and it takes only a couple of swipes to work up a lather - way more lather than my usual face wash. The pads themselves have a beautiful, clean, and light aromatic smell like all AVEENO products, which is a big reason I buy them. What I loved most about them was the dual-textured surfaces. After weeks of using these, my skin feels clean, extremely soft, and surprisingly renewed, which I attribute to the tiny bumps on the pads that scrub away old skin to bring new skin to the surface. The best part is they’re quick and easy to use when you come home from a night out and want nothing more than to fall into bed.

I highly recommend AVEENO's Clear Complexion Daily Cleansing Pads to anyone with adult acne, oily skin, or who appreciates a mini-facial. I did some research on where you can find these, and they seem to be everywhere: Walgreens, Target, the usual suspects. I’m also dying to try the other products in the Clear Complexion line that I found on the Aveeno Web site (Ed. note: Goldie has them now).

Has anyone else tried this product or any of the other Clear Complexion items? What did you think? Also, I’m looking for some good age-defying products, so please let me know if you can recommend any that work really well. I am 30 now!

Photo courtesy of AVEENO

Givenchy Ombre À Fleur De Peau Eyeshadow in Pearly Nude

Givenchy's new, limited-edition Ombre À Fleur De Peau Eyeshadow in Pearly Nude ($34) caught my eye at Sephora online for a two reasons: 1) A new cream eyeshadow will always entice me; 2) Pearly Nude (#2) was described as a glimmering light beige, which made the shade the most attractive of the two available. Pearly rose, although pretty, is not a great shade for my eyelids (it might be gorgeous on my cheeks).

Here is the marketing speak in italics. I've added my assessment after each blurb.

Ombre À Fleur De Peau Eyeshadow is a water-resistant cream eye shadow that blends into the eyelids like a second skin. True.

This eye shadow’s creamy texture turns into a smooth powder for a light and comfortable result. With a pearlescent finish, this shadow works equally well as a primer beneath other shadows. True, and true with reservations.

Wen it arrived at my house, I looked at the little square jar and became anxious. Was this color that looked rosy from outside the jar the right product and shade? It was, but you have to skin-test it to know it matches its glimmering light beige description - kind of sort of.

Pearly Nude showed me a lot of rose in the pot. On my skin, it shows me a little camel and some gold in addition to light beige. "Light beige" can cover a huge range of shades. This one should be called light warm beige.

The texture and finish of this cream shadow are divine. It is sheer, sparkling, and buildable in color. It lasts all day without creasing, most likely because it's a cream-to-powder formula. I'm not sure I'd use it as a shadow primer because I like my primers to be skin-toned or a color that reduces redness and gives me a nice blank canvass on my lids. Edward Bess offers a shade that's perfect for me (already featured here).

I took my swatch photos in full, afternoon sun. I applied Pearly Nude with a cream shadow brush (you can even see the brush strokes in my swatch photos because I built the color for the photos). I don't see that stripey effect on my eyelids.

On my eyelids, Pearly Nude looks like a very warm golden nude. Hopefully, you can see the camel and gold in the shade. It's pretty. It sparkles, but not too much. I have noticed that the color and sparkles transfer above the crease if I blink before it sets. I can't control blinking, so be prepared if you want to contain glimmer to your below-the-crease zone.

Speaking of sparkle, the sparkle factor with Ombre À Fleur De Peau Eyeshadow is significant. If you don't like sparklies, don't order it. I can't wear this shadow during the day, but I would wear it at night.

Pearly Nude is pretty. I'm glad I have it. I don't have a cream eye shadow shade exactly like it, so it adds a new option for this cream shadow lover - even if it is sparkly.

You can find and purchase it, as I did, at Sephora. It's only available online. Since it's a limited edition, it may disappear at any time.

Photo at top courtesy of Sephora; other photos by Best Things in Beauty

Dior Couture Colour Eyeshadow Palette in Khaki Design from the Golden Jungle Collection Fall 2012

Khaki Design, the second of Dior's Couture Colour Eyeshadow Palettes (#308, $59) introduced with the Golden Jungle Collection for Fall 2012, is gorgeous. I think it's a must-have for khaki lovers.

An ultra-professional and totally new version of the 5 Couleurs Eyeshadow Palette [Fards à Paupières in French]. Five different textures have been brought together in a single case to create eye shadow styles through layering. The 5 Couleurs Palette in Khaki Design puts a wild twist on sophistication.

Unlike the Golden Savannah Palette, which I featured last week, this one has no duds (duds defined as sparkly, poorly pigmented shades). I love all the shades in Khaki Design.

I applied all five shades with a sponge-tipped applicator, swatching clockwise and ending in the center. I took my swatch photos in full sun. As you can see, the khaki at top left in the palette is intense. It's a beautiful shade with a lot of charcoal in it - at least on my skin. It still looks Khaki, and applied with a light touch, it's a great fall shade. The sparkling pastel taupe below it has color (yea!). The shade has substance. It's a gorgeous highlighter or base shade. If you look carefully, you might even see a teeny tiny khaki hue in it. It's possible that's just a reflection from the other shades.

The cream-formula eggplant-tinged brown is a fabulous complement to the other shades in the palette. The ivory is saturated and shimmering. It is 100% better than the dud color in the center of the Golden Savannah palette. The center color in Khaki Design, shown at the bottom of my arm, is a drool-worthy, shimmering khaki of light-to-medium intensity and a glowing look on the lid. It may be my favorite shade in this superb palette.

I loved the Golden Savannah neutrals, but felt I'd purchased a quad with five shades. With Khaki Design, I got five shades in a 5 Couleurs palette, making it worth every penny of the $59 I paid for it.

Khaki Design comes with application instructions, but I rarely pay any attention to the paint-by-numbers suggestions. Do you? It also comes in a little velveteen pouch. I wonder how many little pouches are floating around in my house. I wish Charlie or Savannah found them entertaining; then they would have a use.

The Dior Fall 2012 Colors have arrived at Dior counters, and they are selling at a brisk pace. I'm never sure whether that's an indicator that the store purchased an inadequate supply or whether the item is fabulous. If you'd like to try or purchase Khaki Design, I'd suggest you do it soon.

Photo at top courtesy of Nordstrom; other photos by Best Things in Beauty